Nate Costa reportedly returning to Ducks as graduate assistant coach

Former Oregon quarterback Nate Costa will return to the Ducks as a graduate assistant coach, he told CSNNW, where he has done analysis the last couple seasons.

"The coaching staff is coming together, and I'm going to be part of it," Costa said upon announcing the news during the network's "Talkin' Ball" program Wednesday night.

Costa pursued a career in law enforcement after leaving the Ducks following the 2010 season, but football knee injuries derailed those plans. He then did some private coaching while also working in TV, and will now focus full-time on coaching, with the goal of eventually becoming a head coach, he said on "Talkin' Ball."

"That's kind of the allure," Costa said. "I'd like to be a coordinator first, get to call some plays, get a little pressure on myself. And then eventually head coaching, managing people, is probably where i want to be."

New UO coach Mark Helfrich, for whom Costa played in 2009-10, had to replace at least three of the four graduate assistant positions this offseason, after Chip Kelly hired three of the Ducks' GAs last season in Philadelphia. Costa is at least the second new addition to the GA staff, though Helfrich has yet to formally confirm any hires.

"It's been a long road to what I want to do," Costa told CSNNW, where he worked after football knee injuries prevented his preferred career in law enforcement. "I love the TV work, but I missed the competition factor. And I really liked watching young players develop and improve. I'm excited about this opportunity to get into coaching." Click here for the full report from CSNNW.